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comments: 1 click to read
Why did Mark Biernacki's reorganization plan not proceed after the DeKalb City Council rejected it?
Date: Saturday, February 12, 2005
Time: 09:30 AM
Dear Editor:
Thank you for the opportunity to respond. Many in the audience also felt it was targeted for one position. My question to you, is why did the plan not go forward as proposed when the City Council decided not to affect the one position? You did not report that many people also publically expressed disappointment in the politics displayed that night not just two individuals. Why did the targeted employee's wife present more data on alternative cost savings than CM.? Why did Council not approve plan? Come on Mac, let's talk.
Jim Connors,
DeKalb
Jim Connors is the former City Manager in DeKalb. This letter was written in follow up to a letter Mr. Connors submitted in January. For his first letter, click here. Further correspondence is provided below.
Editor's Response:
Jim I applaud you for wanting to continue this conversation publicly.
I am not sure I am the correct person to ask why the reorganization plan did not go forward as proposed but you did so I will offer my perspective.
Mark Biernacki's stated intent for his proposal to reorganize city staff and privatize some of the services was to save taxpayers more than $200,000 per year in wages and provide more cost efficient services. That amount would suggest that the reorganization plan involved more than one employee.
One employee who would be affected, and his wife, made their case for him keeping his job and against the reorganization plan. They did so professionally, intelligently and courteously. They evidently also did so effectively.
Public input was allowed on this discussion and that provided you with the opportunity to address the council, the mayor and the public with your concerns that Biernacki's proposal was designed for a sinister purpose. You chose to instead display disruptive behavior from the back of the room where we were sitting. You are Biernacki's immediate predecessor as city manager. I would have complained similarly had your predecessor appeared at a city council meeting and acted as you did.
Giving the current city manager any credit for being a decent human being does allow the possibility the plan was not followed through on because he took direction from the city council. I suspect the city council voted the plan down because they did not agree with Biernacki in their assessment of its merits.
I just recently attended a meeting where Biernacki informed local builders and developers that he was considering an alternative to his proposal. Building permit fees, if his proposal is approved by city council, will increase by an additional $250 per unit, on top of increases based on the consumer price index. This increase, according to Biernacki, will mean that DeKalb builders and developers will pay for the employee positions not privatized in the former plan. That suggests that he is honest about his intent.
Mac McIntyre,
DeKalb County Online
Date: Sunday February 13, 2005
Time: 09:54 AM -0500
Comment:
Mac, I think you exaggerated a bit too much and continue to fail to mention the reaction of most of those present. I did give my input to those aldermen prior to the meeting willing to listen. I will be always opposed to cronyism and attempts to "punish" employees who are true public servants and protecting the taxpayers. Do you? I also want to thank the many who came up to me after the meeting to express thanks for attending.
Jim C.
P.S. Mac, if you want more of the truth, call me and let's have coffee.
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